Richard Dawkins: Enemy of Truth

by

Wayne Jackson, M.A.

Richard Dawkins is a professor of zoology at Oxford University who has described himself as “a fairly militant atheist, with a fair degree of active hostility toward religion” (Bass, 1990, p. 86). According to Dawkins, “religion is very largely an enemy of truth” (Bass, p. 87). He characterizes the idea that man was created by God as a “blasphemy” that “we [atheists—WJ] have to fight against” (Watson, 1987, p. 11). In fact, it is he who is the enemy of truth.

Dawkins has achieved a degree of fame from several books he has written. In 1976 he authored The Selfish Gene, in which he set forth his theory of genetic determinism (although he would deny that appellation). Akin to E.O. Wilson’s concept of “sociobiology,” it attempts to explain animal and/or human behavior on a genetic basis. Genes, Dawkins contends, are the key to understanding animal behavior. But aren’t men animals according to evolutionary theory? Yes, but in order to escape the logical consequence of the argument (that man is not responsible for his behavior), it is claimed that humans, in their evolutionary progress, can break free from the genes that program them.

Dawkins has boasted that his book brings home the reality of the ruthless, mechanistic explanation of human existence. “You are for nothing. You are here to propagate your selfish genes. There is no higher purpose to life” (Bass, p. 60). He is gratified also that in reading his book, people are “losing religious faith” (Bass, p. 60).

In 1986, Dawkins authored The Blind Watchmaker. In this treatise he attempted to negate the influence of William Paley’s classic work, Natural Theology (1802), in which the English theologian eloquently argued that the design suggested in the Universe is evidence of a grand Designer (God). To Dawkins, the blind force of natural selection is the basis for the “apparent design” around us that appears to cry out “for an explanation” (1988, p. ix; see also Jackson, 1992).

Christians must not let these challenges go unanswered. Enemies of the truth must be opposed in a kind, but firm and rational way.

We are happy to grant permission for items in the "Existence of God" section to be reproduced in their entirety, as long as the following stipulations are observed: (1) Apologetics Press must be designated as the original publisher; (2) the specific Apologetics Press Web site URL must be noted; (3) the author’s name must remain attached to the materials; (4) any references, footnotes, or endnotes that accompany the article must be included with any written reproduction of the article; (5) alterations of any kind are strictly forbidden (e.g., photographs, charts, graphics, quotations, etc. must be reproduced exactly as they appear in the original); (6) serialization of written material (e.g., running an article in several parts) is permitted, as long as the whole of the material is made available, without editing, in a reasonable length of time; (7) articles, in whole or in part, may not be offered for sale or included in items offered for sale; and (8) articles may be reproduced in electronic form for posting on Web sites pending they are not edited or altered from their original content and that credit is given to Apologetics Press, including the web location from which the articles were taken.